While I really like Novak, and if i were playing basketball, I’d love to have Novak on my team, we really NEED him to be more consistent with the outside shooting. Maybe after that 3 against UConn that’ll give him a little boost, but we have shot 3s horrendously this season and pretty much everyone is to blame.

Given our general talent level, we obviously dont’ have a ton of margin for error. Now that we are back playing hard and getting things done, we just need the 3s to fall and we can really work our way back into this season. The onus is on the sophomores I think, Stu/LLP/Novak, just to give our guys some support early in games and be factors so that Manny and Deshawn don’t just get double teamed during 2nd halves.

But, I do think that this team can go to OSU and win. I know last year they played poorly there early on, but I think I remember them making a run in the second half. It would be a tall task especially with Turner back and playing well, but I would not rule it out. As for winning at MSU, eh, they would have to have one of those on nights which just have not happenned yet. However, that is the great thing about this team, at some point they are due for a complete game shooting the ball. Maybe it happens in one of those venues?

Either way, I feel good about tomorrow. I like how we match up with Wisky and I gotta believe this team realizes how important it is for them to start putting together some wins.

the big ten is in fact very tough this year. no it’s not awesome or anything, but it’s as good as any conference this season. I don’t see northwestern keeping it going. i’m interested to see how we do in the minny series.

I tend to run different scenarios through my mind, but it’s a lost cause at this point. the bottom line is it’s all up to how we play. we’re capable of making it, capable of not making it. I don’t think there’s any way we win 12 big ten games. …one game at a time though. i had uw chalked up as a certain loss, but the leuer injury gives us a chance. a win at wiscy would be HUGE.

we already have a lot of bad losses. hopefully if we pick it up the second half of the season that will be considered.

At this point UM would have to win at least 11 to have a shot unless they made a deep run in the BTT.

If anything getting an at large will be harder this year rather than easier, because even though the Pac-10 and ACC are pretty down its a banner year for the Atlantic 10 and the Mountain West is pretty good looking too. I don’t see much from the Missouri Valley or Conference USA, though and the WCC is still Gonzaga and the Seven Dwarfs no matter how much ESPN’s fetish for St. Mary’s Australian players says otherwise.

Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern are on the outside looking in right now.

Big Ten’s RPI is 6th and although they had the preseason hype the non-conference was very disappointing across the board. Purdue and Wisconsin were really the only ones with quality wins.

If Michigan wants to make it at 10-8.. that better include some huge wins. 11-7 they have a shot I think. 12-6 I would be comfortable with.